Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Hello fellow prog heads and welcome to another weekly stop on my prog expedition. Sticking with the "everything old is new again" theme from last week, I have found a band I believe is well worth a listen and should make a great addition to my quickly growing collection.

The search for progressive music that is new (to me) has been quite the adventure; my stop in a random library aisle this week brings me to a band called The Tangent. They call themselves "real British progressive rock music in the spirit of the great masters..." OK; now I am extremely eager to hear what type of prog this band can bring to the turntable. Progressive music has taken many new forms of late, and while I once feared for prog's future, my now "not-so-upturned" nose has picked up many new aromas while walking the buffet line. I have learned to be more accepting of the newer progressive bands filling the airwaves and educating the younger, less experienced listener. So...off the soapbox and on to feeding the ears...

I decide to start randomly with a song called "A Place in the Queue." This is from The Tangent's third album released in January 2006. The opening instrumental piece has very strong hints of early King Crimson--you have my attention. Traveling deeper into this tune I am taken by the strength of the horns and how perfectly the piano, guitar, and drums all work together. The saxophone is a thing of beauty; this is all at once classic and new. The jazz/blues overtones are obvious, and the vocals weave eerily into your spinal cord. The darkness that follows is striking; this is a 25 minute ride well worth the price of admission. Time to dig deeper...

My second selection is from The Tangent's 2003 debut album "The Music That Died Alone." This cut is called "Uphill From Here." Again I detect classic prog mixed with a newness hard to pin down. I sense ELP, Van Der Graaf Generator, and The Flower Kings wafting through my headphones. The way the music comes together is really impressive; prog is indeed alive and well in the 21st century.

Liner Notes...The Tangent formed in 2003 and has been through several line-up and personnel changes. A complete listing of musicians who have been involved with The Tangent from the beginning up to the present is fairly cumbersome and much too long to include here. Without meaning to offend anyone I will say that the current line-up is Andy Tillison on guitars, keyboards, and vocals; Theo Travis on flute, saxophone, and clarinet; Jonas Reingold on bass; Gavin Harrison on drums; Jakko M. Jakszyk on guitar and vocals; and David Longdon on vocals.

The Tangent's ties to progressive rock weave through Genesis, Yes, King Crimson, Soft Machine, and Porcupine Tree--yet even this is an incomplete list. Suffice to say The Tangent is not a band for the timid or the unknowing...but it is a band for the student of progressive music. To listen to The Tangent is to take a crash course in prog; forty years of musical tapestry woven into a few hours of incredible sound. Make sure you savor the aroma as well as the taste, and always leave room for one more helping. Speaking of which...

I have to make another run at the buffet, and this time I come away with "Evening TV" from the latest release "Le Sacre Du Travail." This is the band's first attempt at a concept album and it is truly fantastic. This cut is but one piece of an album that looks at life through the eyes and mind of the average working stiff. If you start to think, "didn't the Moody Blues do something like this back in 1967?" you would be correct...but let me be the first to say that "Le Sacre Du Travail" is in no way a cover or rip-off of "Days of Future Passed." The commonality is in the theme but the comparisons should end there. This particular piece is amazing because I can feel myself walking in the shoes of every working man while getting caught up in what really is incredible music. This piece is a great backdrop for the emotional tumult that is the end of the day...

Once again fellow prog heads I am humbled and excited by the possibilities that still await me on my journey. The Tangent--coming off Beardfish--has really gotten my prog juices flowing and I am starting to feel the emotional rush I had as a teenager when I first heard King Crimson's "Epitaph." The possibilities are endless...

The cut below is "Evening TV" from the aforementioned "Le Sacre Du Travail." I know it seems I have abandoned my "post something other than what I reviewed rule" but this time I can explain...YouTube refused to cooperate and I had a hard time retrieving anything else...maybe the computer has developed a taste...regardless; The Tangent is able to make you forget the inconveniences that can ruin a good mood--all you want to do is sit back, relax, crack a cold one, and drift away. After listening to this tell me if you don't sense The Tangent channeling early Crimson, Yes, and Barclay James Harvest...

Next week prog fans I am going to force myself to cross to the other side of the prog library and dust off something totally new and different in flavor, texture, and aroma compared to what I have savored to this point. I love surprises and can't wait to hear what I find...until then...

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

This week prog fans, I was shocked to discover a band I overlooked in my youth...until I realized Beardfish was not formed until 2001...holy cosmic throwback! I just looked out into the driveway to see if my 1973 Chevy Chevelle was parked there--because I have definitely traveled back a few decades. Beardfish is all at once a great new sound and a fantastic stroll through progressive music past.

I start out my prog "feast for the ears" with a song entitled, "Akakabotu" from the band's 2011 release "Mammoth." I immediately detect hints of Yes, Genesis, and vintage Frank Zappa from his jazz fusion days...talk about mentors! If this is some of the talent Beardfish draws inspiration from, I believe I am making quite a few trips to the buffet tonight. The keyboards and the horns on this track are absolutely amazing; all I need is a black light and an old sofa to sit up on the back of and my day is complete.

Moving to another track from the Mammoth album, I find "And the Stone Said: If I Could Speak." Just the title alone is reason to check this tune out...and I am not disappointed. The opening again takes me back to the classic prog days; I get a strong taste of Atomic Rooster with a hint of Deep Purple thrown in. Beardfish is a band that can truly play. Few bands can lay down a sound this smooth while drawing from so many influences. After listening to the first two songs here I can no longer say "They don't make music like they used to." They most certainly do--and I will happily keep looking for more.

OK; now the section I have decided to call "Liner Notes." Beardfish formed in 2001, went through a few personnel and line-up changes, and the band currently consists of these very talented musicians...Rikard Sjoblom on vocals, guitars, and keyboards, David Zackrisson on guitars, Magnus Ostgren on drums, and Robert Hansen on bass. The evolving membership occurred mainly in 2002 and 2003, and with the exception of Robert on bass, each current member of Beardfish was there in the beginning. The band's website states they are fans of King Crimson and Gentle Giant; their homage to these two icons of the progressive world definitely comes through.

For my next helping, I chose the title cut from the 2006 album "The Sane Day." The song opens somewhat jazzy/bluesy; I am reminded of a smoky nightclub after hours when the musicians play what they want rather than what the crowd came to hear. The keyboards here work slowly into your mind until you are mesmerized, almost forgetting the bass is pulling your frontal lobe towards the center of the musical universe. Beardfish plays songs you want on your iPod when taking a cross country bus ride at night--a great time to focus on nothing but beautiful music...

OK, now to find a great finish to what has become a fantastic prog meal. For dessert I cheat just a little and take a double helping; "Sleeping In Traffic" and "Sunrise Again" from the 2009 release, "Sleeping In Traffic Part Two." The music is as refreshing as the first strawberries of spring, and the vocals are just as smooth.

Beardfish is a band that does the prog genre proud--they play great music the way it was intended to be played and enjoy every minute of it. It is as if four people share one mind when it comes to music; each knowing what the others are trying to do and adding the necessary accompaniments. It would be a wonderful thing if more airplay was given to bands like Beardfish...

The cut below is called "In Real Life There Is No Algebra." Having a daughter currently studying algebra in high school, I couldn't resist--and the fact that the song is amazing didn't hurt. Beardfish is an incredible band that does two things better than most; play music and come up with cool song titles...although Frank Zappa might argue the second point. Either way there is no reason to get upset...just cue up the album and play on...

If you like Beardfish check out their website www.beardfishband.com, take a nice long listen, and enjoy...if you are unfamiliar, take two days off from work (or school) and set up camp in the YouTube library, 'cuz you got some catching up to do! Just don't forget to come back here next week and check out another brave new entry in the wonderful world of prog. So many great bands, so little time...

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Good evening prog heads, and welcome to another installment of "What Shall I Try This Week?" I admit that lately I have felt like a kid in a candy store with a pocketful of birthday money, trying to decide how to spend it. The only difference is this is a virtual music library and I get to try it all...I just need to avoid the proverbial bellyache. So let's take a walk down this aisle and see what awaits the curious...

I am proud to say that each week since I started this journey I have successfully found a shelf with new offerings unknown to me prior to this blog. It has been fun, exciting, and dare I say educational to discover so much new progressive music filling the internet airwaves. It is refreshing to find so many good options out there, especially with corporate radio clogged with the latest vanilla, tasteless, mundane, feces being thrown at our youth...ahhh, but I digress...only happy thoughts here...

Today I have stopped in front of the section labeled, "The Room." They call themselves a "crossover prog band." Hmmm...yet another progressive rock group I have not heard on the airwaves or my stereo.
Perhaps it is time for new addition to the menu...let's find out what "crossover" is prog lingo for...

I start out with a song called "Flesh and Bone." After a quick flashback to Pink Floyd with the chopper sound effects, I get a sense of a strong first cut. Once the drums start and the music begins, the sound is very bold and definite. The bass line is strong and the keyboards have a prominent place in this tune. Everything seems to mesh; these guys are feeding off each other and the result is a strong first taste. However; if I didn't know better, I could mistake the sound for an early Fixx release...on to cut number two...

"A Casual Believer" opens strong and definite just as "Flesh and Bone" did...The Room has dialed in a style and a sound that makes them recognizable once you get familiar. The vocals are good,and the song is very clean. Not sure who did the mixing on this song, but I can tell it wasn't his first time playing with the controls. The guitar work is excellent and carries through in respectable fashion.

OK...time for the obligatory "look backstage." The Room is Martin Wilson on vocals, Andrew Rae on drums, Andy Rowe on bass, Steve Anderson on guitar, and Steve Checkley on keyboards. Andrew is also credited as founding member of The Room and everyone has been in the prog music world for a while. Steve and Martin are former members of Grey Lady Down and the others have also played in various prog rock bands. The Room formed in 2010 and hit the world hard in 2011. The Room is five multi-talented musicians; each contributes to the songwriting and has an influence on the sound and musical direction.

The songwriting has hints of late Genesis; post "And Then There Were Three" when Phil Collins began to steer the band away from the prog world toward the bright lights and big arenas. Don't get wrong; I like the sound of this band, I just get the feeling "crossover prog" translates to a more mainstream sound than I am accustomed to...but I did set out to broaden my knowledge and expand my pallet, so let's keep going, shall we? One thing I have learned about progressive music in recent months...the definition has evolved. Most bands (with any talent and morals) today try hard to steer away from the "mainstream pop and rock" label with good reason. I would sooner crawl naked doused in rubbing alcohol through broken glass than be associated in any way with Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, et al...but again; I digress...

"The Spark" is a song that starts out slow and subtle...but listener beware; it may move over your ears like a ballad, but it breaks through with a steady thump, strong melodic vocals, and a marching band drum that leads the bass through a tight, well choreographed beat. The song is good and The Room is definitely filled with talent. So I like what I hear...but I am still looking for that one song able to kick my butt up and over my shoulders. One more look around The Room and what do I see...

For my last song this week I find "Screaming Through The Noise." This is what I was looking for when I walked in the library today...a song that opens with mystery and suspense, only to cut right through your ribs, kick your heart, and reverberate through your extremities. This is crossover prog at its finest. You can feel the emotion in Martin's voice; heck each note drips with blood. Everything works here...the guitar, drums, keys, even the backing vocals are sung with a rawness that comes through like a meat cleaver. It's official--I'm a fan. When I went looking for new and unfamiliar prog, this is the type of sound I was hoping to find. Building from here there will be a house around The Room in no time...

The cut below is "Screaming Through The Noise." Once again I go against my "different link than what was reviewed" rule but this song is so powerful, raw, and real I wanted you to have a taste of what I have quickly come to appreciate as "crossover prog." There is an intensity to this song that makes me want to dim the lights and sway in my chair slowly...

You can get a better view of The Room by visiting their website at theroom.eu including additional links to more music.

So far so good...my prog playlist has grown quite a bit in five weeks and I have only scratched the surface. Next week I will force myself to venture down yet another untrodden aisle in my never ending search for all things prog. Now where did I put that candelabra? Until next week...

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

As promised, I am standing in a section of the prog library where the floor is beautifully polished...because my size 10's have yet to scratch the surface. I am really enjoying this journey and I hope you are as well...so let's take a look at what musical indulgence awaits us this week...

Checking the shelves of the unknown, I see Fire Garden, a prog band from Chicago. In the spirit of full disclosure I will say up front that direct contact from the band via Twitter led me to this corner of the library. Fire Garden is a band I was absolutely unfamiliar with prior to this...and so far I like what I hear. Although it is a much overused "mantra"--to the point of being cliche--I like the expression, "Go big or go home." This fits perfectly with the start of my listening adventure, the song "Forsaken." True to the band's website, Fire Garden is reminiscent of Dream Theater and that is not a bad way to start the morning...caffeine without the coffee. "Forsaken" opens real strong with the drums leading the guitar down a path heavy laden with a full sound that smacks you in the face but does not make you mad...rather it energizes you.

OK, let's take a quick look behind the curtain. Fire Garden is Chase Carter on vocals, Zeeshan Baig (Zee) on guitar, Frank Lucas playing keyboards, Barry Kleiber on bass, and Chuck White on drums. Zee is credited on the band's website as founder, lyricist, and songwriter, as well as the "mastermind" of the band...but after listening I prefer the term "evil genius." These are five musicians who truly complement each other. While I do detect tastes of Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, and even a hint of Uriah Heep, Fire Garden has created a sound that is uniquely their own.

Fire Garden released their first EP, "The Prelude," in December 2012 and are currently putting together a full length album due out this fall. If the "The Prelude" was designed to whet the appetite, it worked with me...my pallet is awake and I am ready for a full serving. Zee's guitar work is hard to pin down...I sense a man pulled in many directions while mastering his craft and allowing those influences to morph into a sound that pays tribute to classic prog while blazing a metal path all his own. Kleiber's bass is not what I expect in a prog metal band. He hammers you in the head one minute and then takes a backseat the next...this shows me a trust and confidence among the players in the band that usually takes years to build. Chuck plays drums the way they should be played; hard fast, and loud enough to be heard but not so much that the rest of the music is an afterthought.

The second cut I listen to is "Far From Grace." This one starts out more on the mellow side of "Forsaken" but don't be fooled; it comes right back at you in short time. Zee once again works guitar magic with the opening riff--not too hard and not so long that you forget there is a song here...just enough to keep you focused. Chase's vocals are very good, he hits the bell with one swing of the hammer. I like that he is able to put emotion into the song without coming off like someone who doesn't know what his range is or even what that means...he takes immediate control and never lets it go.

"Time Machine" is the final cut from the three song EP I get to sample here. This one drives out of the gate fast and holds steady throughout. Frank gets a chance to show his keyboard presence on this track, and I am impressed at how he is able to show-off without drowning out or overpowering the rest of the band. If I have one regret it's that I am out of music to play here...

Hard to believe this is the debut from Fire Garden; it sounds more like their third or fourth release. I know the members of Fire Garden have side projects and other things going on professionally--which has helped sharpen their abilities--but this first output is very good. I am eager and excited to get a listen on their full length LP when it comes out (not so subtle hint inserted here).

I posted the video below for two reasons...first, (if you have noticed) I prefer to post a song not among the specific ones I reviewed. However; there is only so much out from Fire Garden as of this post, and I wanted to get all three songs covered here. The second (and biggest reason) is "Far From Grace" is the only song I found in the YouTube wing of my vast and expansive library...but I am quite confident you will be pleased...and just like me, hungry for more.

Check out the Fire Garden official website at firegardenmusic.com for more info...you won't be disappointed!

Once again I am pleased to find such great new music lurking in the progressive wing...I may have to start an addition to the library soon. If any other prog bands care to tweet me, I am happy to oblige with a review.
I really am a cheap date...see you next week.